As the superhero of the Concord Monitor IT department, Ben Allen spends most of his day surrounded by technology (or at least what newspapers consider technology). But when it comes to making apple cider, he’s down to use techniques that are centuries old.
For instance, the press he uses right now is a wine press made by Ames Manufacturing Co., which is still in business selling agricultural tools. Allen’s is about 100 years old and was purchased used by his parents around 1971, he said.
“Below the press is an old cow milking can collecting the cider that we’ve used as long as I can remember,” Allen said.
The old press features some updated parts, including some Allen’s dad added in 1971 and a new grinder drum Allen’s brother, Will, built a few years ago (although the teeth remain square cut flooring nails.)
